Now the rivers rain down from on high, G/ C/
But on earth how our rivers run dry. G/ D/
As The storms of our children arrive, G/ C/
Creation is burning alive, G C D/
Turning forest to cinders right under our eyes, C D C D
Exxon knew all along. G Em Am D G/ D/

Back in seventy-seven they learned G/ C/
All the trouble with fossils we burn. G/ D/
Are they going to level or lie? G/ C/
Is the money more dear than the sky? G C D/
A crime against humanity, open your eyes! C/ D/
I’m asking you, how can it be otherwise? Em/ D/
Exxon can stop it if they only try. C D C D
Exxon knew all along. G Em Am D G/ D/

Premeditation means planning a crime, (same as verse 3)
All the details, ahead of the time,
A Coalition for Climate Denying,
Beating drums for a new party line.
How calmly they calculate how to progress,
How to poison the public and perjure the press.
1989 they are turning to crime.
Exxon knew all along.

How wicked a web do they weave,
Bending genius and power to deceive.
Into classrooms their tentacles reach,
Through Congress and think tanks they preach.
Just like tobacco, decades ago,
Killing people, pretending that they didn’t know,
Sealing our fate with a phony debate.
Exxon knew all along.

Oh Free Market, let not it seem rude,
But your prices had better include
All the cities to yet wash away
Between 2015 and your Reckoning Day;
All the farms that will fail and the mouths without food
Are only a part of the cost of your crude,
And part of the penance that Exxon will pay,
For Exxon knew all along. They knew all along.

What’s it about? A recent investigation by InsideClimate News reveals that Exxon has been well aware of the climate consequences of fossil fuel combustion since 1977. Exxon scientists were actually in the forefront of climate science at that time. After James Hansen brought climate change to world attention in 1988, however, Exxon chose a dark path: Rather than risk the profitability of their business model, they invested millions in the years that followed to misinform the public, undermining the progress and credibility of climate science. Acting through political lobbyists, think tanks, and trade organizations such as the Global Climate Coalition and American Legislative Exchange Council (see below), Exxon and other oil, gas and coal interests have conspired to obstruct public awareness of climate change, blocking national and international efforts to do something about it. Exxon’s efforts over the years got the US climate denial ball rolling, cultivating among US public and politicians a deep ignorance of climate issues and suspicion toward the science in general. This heavily funded climate denial campaign has been an exact copy of the strategy of the big tobacco companies in the ’60s and ’70s, even employing some of the same people and organizations. Their deception has been exposed in the 2010 book Merchants of Doubt (Oreskes & Conway), and the 2015 film Merchants of Doubt. The strategy of confusion kept the tobacco industry out of court for many years, but we have run out of time with climate change. Had Exxon been forthright about their early scientific climate work, and put their enormous wealth and influence to work in promoting truth rather than stonewalling it, we would very likely live in a different and a safer world today. Instead, Exxon has played the leading role in allowing climate change to escalate unchecked. The consequences, including loss of lives, property, unprecedented droughts and flooding, breakdown of agricultural production and resource wars, are only beginning to appear. Climate change is now well underway. It is too late to stop it, although there is plenty we can do to mitigate it — if Exxon and their cronies get out of the way. Lying to protect profits at the expense of public health and safety is illegal at best. In Exxon’s case, the unprecedented scale of consequences of their misbehavior merits vigorous investigation, including possible classification as a crime against humanity. Although these events may come as a surprise for the American public, make no mistake: Exxon knew all along.

5 Comments

Ah Doug, when are you going to be making the lounge circuit with your songs? You have more than enough for an all nighter! How about the “Postcard to Paris” event at the Ice House? Pale Fire has the capacity.

doug woodward
November 8, 2015

Doug & Nancy, Hi! In reading Amy & David Goodman’s Standing Up To The Madness I discovered why Stanford only divested from coal and not oil & gas also. (Which happened, I believe, during the Harvard Divest action where we met.) Exxon, the biggest disseminator of climate change lies, gave $100 million to Stanford for “research” and has attached Stanford’s name (“partnership with the best minds”) to its ads. Now it makes sense!!

Canyon graduated in May, spent the summer in Wyoming getting certified as a NOLS Instructor (in backpacking and kayaking/rafting) and is now in South Carolina, working as field coordinator for the western half of the state for Bernie Sanders’ campaign.

Even though I don’t often comment, I appreciate the the Musical Scalpel and the effort you both put into it, so much!

doug

Bonnie MacEvoy
November 10, 2015

Thanks, Doug and Nancy, for another poignant and timely work of art. May the right ears and eyes be receiving you!
Big hugs; miss you both.

Roseann
November 13, 2015

This was another great song
Your voice gets better and better
Words are great